On 1st February, the Palakkad District Court in Kerala issued non-bailable warrants against yoga guru Baba Ramdev and Patanjali Yogpeeth president Acharya Balkrishna as they failed to appear in a criminal case concerning misleading medical advertisements. The case was filed by the Kerala Drugs Inspector against Divya Pharmacy, a subsidiary of Patanjali Ayurved Limited, over alleged violations of advertising regulations.
Court escalates action after repeated absence
Initially, the Judicial First Class Magistrate-II in Palakkad had issued bailable warrants for Baba Ramdev and Balkrishna to appear on 1st February. However, their failure to attend court prompted escalation in the matter, and the judge issued non-bailable warrants against the two. The next hearing in the matter is scheduled for 15th February. Divya Pharmacy has been named the first accused, Acharya Balkrishna the second, and Baba Ramdev the third in the case.
Legal basis of the case
The complaint against Divya Pharmacy was filed under Sections 3, 3(b), and 3(d) of The Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954, highlighting multiple violations of the advertisement code. Section 3 prohibits advertising certain drugs for the treatment of specific diseases and disorders. Section 3(b) specifically bans advertisements claiming to enhance sexual pleasure, while Section 3(d) forbids claims related to diagnosing, curing, or preventing diseases as outlined under the Act’s rules.
Patanjali’s history of legal troubles
Patanjali and its founders have a long history of legal troubles. A few months back, the Supreme Court of India scrutinised Patanjali’s products for misleading advertisements disparaging modern medical practices like allopathy. The complaint filed by the Indian Medical Association (IMA) against Patanjali stemmed from ads during the COVID-19 pandemic, where Baba Ramdev made claims about curing the virus and undermining modern medicine.
Despite the contempt notice issued for continuing such advertisements, the court later closed the case after accepting a public apology from Ramdev, Balkrishna, and Patanjali Ayurved.
Earlier, the Bombay High Court imposed a ₹4 crore fine on the company for selling camphor-based products in violation of regulatory norms. While some cases have been resolved, the latest non-bailable warrants highlight the continuing legal scrutiny surrounding Patanjali and its founders.
